‘Cruel and demeaning’ if Albanese government restores single-parent payment only until children reach high school, advocates say

Under the payment scheme, single parents receive about $961 a fortnight, but are shifted to jobseeker when their child turns eight, receiving about $176 less. Photograph: Blake Sharp-Wiggins/The Guardian

Advocates have warned the Albanese government against adopting a “half measure” of restoring single-parent payments only until children reach high school age.

The women’s economic equality taskforce recently recommended reversing a Gillard government-era decision that reduced the age of children whose parents qualify for single-parent payments from 16 to eight.